Paradise Pier or Camelot?

[mmps108]

I know there must be a lot of threads about this subject but I'm having trouble with the search feature.

Which would you pick? Help! I can't decide if cost should be our biggest concern or if it would be more magical to stay at Paradise Pier.

We just canceled our WDW reservation to go to DL for the 1st time ever.
I'm so confused with which Good Neighbor hotels are best for price/aesthetics/magic/proximity to DL

Thanks!!

 

[kiwitravel]

Camelot is a lot closer, PP doesn't get great reviews here whilst Camelot gets a lot of positive reviews. Camelot is a lot cheaper and you can get a bit of a disney view from the balcony outside your room. Great views of the fireworks every night.

 

[lulubelle]

I would spend the $$ and stay at PP. But I am a big fan of the on site hotels. It really does boil down to whether or not you want to spend the extra money. Have you looked at pix on line of the two? That always helps me decide. Have a great trip.

 

[disney4cam]

Personally, I don't think PP is worth it. It's farther away and the walk from PP to GCH is almost as long as Camelot to Disneyland! Not quite, but it's still a hassle. When we stayed at PP, we didn't feel the Disney Magic all that much.

Save your money and go to another character breakfast!

 

[pixiewings71]

I would do PP. I love it there, it's a really nice hotel and it's not that far if you know how to walk it. Don't follow the signs, cut thru the GCH and follow the signs in there for DTD and you'll save a lot of time.

If I was going Good Neighbor I would go HoJo (see if the Ent. Rate is available for your stay and you can save a lot of $$, the rates are $59, $69, $74 a night) or CCI. If you want to be closer then try the Tropicana or BWPPI.

 

[mmps108]

I would do PP. I love it there, it's a really nice hotel and it's not that far if you know how to walk it. Don't follow the signs, cut thru the GCH and follow the signs in there for DTD and you'll save a lot of time.

If I was going Good Neighbor I would go HoJo (see if the Ent. Rate is available for your stay and you can save a lot of $$, the rates are $59, $69, $74 a night) or CCI. If you want to be closer then try the Tropicana or BWPPI.

Our Dreams Unlimited TA is the one that recommended Camelot.
I'm so torn now after reading all your responses. I really like staying on site at WDW because we don't do "non-Disney" stuff and I like being immersed in the magic. We're only staying 3 nights and going to the parks like 2.5 days.
But I keep hearing, "it's not the same at DL"
I have read on other threads that HoJo is awesome, but everything I know about other HoJos is icky! What is the Ent. Rate and how do you get it?
We are a couple in our 30s, would you still recommend the same hotels since we don't have kids?

 

[pixiewings71]

I would definitely still recommend the same hotels without kids. In fact the only time we've done PP was without kids, it was us and my BFF and her DFi. So we were a group of 30-somethings just having a ton of fun at DL.

I've never been to WDW but I hear that it is very different too, even when you're in a DL property it's not as immersive as it is at WDW, there is still the outside world so for us being on-site isn't that important. I'm sure when we do WDW I will feel differently and we will stay on site but it's just not "necessary" at DL.

HoJo is great hotel, it's very clean, the rooms are amazing! The prices can't be beat. The Ent Rate that I listed above isn't available all the time though, some nights they don't have it at all other sell out quickly. You do need an Ent. Card when you check in but not to make the reservations so just buy your local book or look on eBay for a card, as long as you have it when check in you'll be fine. What you need to do is call the Anaheim HoJo direct, ask for Jennifer or Lorealle in In House Reservations. If you go to the 800 number they won't know what you are talking about, the super special rates are only available thru In House. The walk from the HoJo is about the same as the walk from the PP, actually it's probably closer. We can make the HoJo walk in 7-10 min. tops, that's with 2 kids and after being in the parks on our feet all day.

Ask more if you have questions, we will try to help.

 

[cccdisney]

Our Dreams Unlimited TA is the one that recommended Camelot.
I'm so torn now after reading all your responses. I really like staying on site at WDW because we don't do "non-Disney" stuff and I like being immersed in the magic. We're only staying 3 nights and going to the parks like 2.5 days.
But I keep hearing, "it's not the same at DL"
I have read on other threads that HoJo is awesome, but everything I know about other HoJos is icky! What is the Ent. Rate and how do you get it?
We are a couple in our 30s, would you still recommend the same hotels since we don't have kids?

I would also recommend PPH. I actually prefer it to the DLH, but that is just my preference. It may be a little farther of a walk than Camelot, but a much nicer walk. Again this is just my opinion, but I would rather walk through the GCH and Downtown Disney than Harbour Blvd.
We do stay at HOJO when a good AP rate is not available for PPH. I do really enjoy HOJO and it is an excellent value for the $$ when you get the entertainment rate! I still don't enjoy walking down Harbor though, even walking on the non-hotel side. We stayed there last month and it was the first time I saw some "questionable" individuals at the bus stop and was actually thankful I wasn't walking alone.
I have been to WDW. This last May I stated at Pop Century. The PP rooms are much bigger than POP Century.

 

[Sienna]

I've stayed at both, and in terms of proximity and amenities, I actually like the Camelot. I agree with what some of the other people have said - PPH isn't overly "Disney." AND, it's a LONG walk to the parks. The Camelot is literally right across the street from the entrance to DL, and they have a lot of little 'perks', such as free (but basic) breakfast, fridge AND microwaves in the rooms, and some of the rooms look out over DL. I didn't feel like I was missing out on the Disney experience by staying at the Camelot.